Water works
An elderly gent takes a daily dip at my local beach rain or shine. He hobbles down the soft sand and wades into the waves. As he resurfaces from the salty baptism he beams a boyish grin. Striding out as if emerging from the fountain of youth, he massages his limbs under an invigorating cold shower.
JH Kellogg, founder of Battle Creek Sanitarium in 1866, would approve. Kellogg wrote in Rational Hydrotherapy that a cold shower “is one of the most powerful of all tonics. It creates an appetite for food and a disposition to and capacity for both mental and muscular activity to a remarkable degree.”
Beach benefits abound. The sand exfoliates feet and tones muscles. The blue space effect calms, cools, lowers blood pressure and aids sleep. Mineral-rich seawater combined with moderate sun increases immunity, purifies and relaxes. The healing sea is specifically soothing for depression, psoriasis, dandruff, dermatitis and eczema. Sea air’s rich negative ions boost oxygenation, neutralise free radicals, reduce bacteria and increase immunity.
A tonic trip to the ocean has been prescribed since Dr Jacques de la Bonnardière coined the term “thalassotherapy” for coastal
